Control system for controlling plurality of operations of common category by plurality of control units

Abstract

Each control unit of a plurality of control units comprises an operation device for operating thereof, the operation device providing an operation signal correspondingly, and a control device for providing a control signal in response to the provision of the operation signal, the control signal causing an execution device to execute a predetermined operation. The control signals provided by the each control unit are different from each other, and the predetermined operations belong to a common operation category and are different from each other. A determination device determines which of the predetermined operations the executed device should execute, without regard to which of the plurality of control units is operated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system comprising: execution means for executing a predetermined action either in a first predetermined manner or in a second predetermined manner; a first control unit comprising:     first operation means for an operator for performing an operation thereon, said performed operation causing said first operation means to provide a corresponding operation signal; and   first control means for, in response to the operation signal being provided by said first operation means, providing a corresponding control signal; a second control unit comprising:     second operation means for an operator for performing an operation thereon, said performed operation causing said second operation means to provide a corresponding operation signal; and   second control means for either sending the operation signal provided by said second operation means to said first control unit or providing a control signal for controlling said execution means so as to make said execution means execute said predetermined action either in said first predetermined manner if said second control means receives the control signal provided by said first control means or in said second predetermined manner if said second control means receives the operation signal provided by said second operation means; and determination means for determining which process of a first process and a second process is to be executed, said second control means providing the control signal corresponding to the operation signal provided by said second operation means to said execution means in said first process and the operation signal provided by said second operation means being further sent to said first control means in said second process; and   wherein:     said first control means provides the corresponding control signal to said second control means if said first control means receives the operation signal provided by said first operation means; and also   said first control means provides the corresponding control signal to said second control means if the first control means receives, via said second control means, the operation signal provided by said second operation means.   
     
     
       2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein: said predetermined action comprises reproducing data previously recorded on a recording medium;   said predetermined action in said first predetermined manner comprises reproducing said data in the order in which said data were originally recorded; and   said predetermined action in said second predetermined manner comprises reproducing said data in a predetermined order different from said order in which said data were originally recorded.   
     
     
       3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein: said first control unit comprises said executing means; and   said second control unit is located remotely from said first control unit.   
     
     
       4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined action comprises at least one of recording data on a recording medium and reproducing data previously recorded on a recording medium. 
     
     
       5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said second control unit comprises said second operation means, said second control means and said determination means. 
     
     
       6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines which process of said first and second processes should be executed, based on the state of a physical connection between said said first control unit and said second control unit. 
     
     
       7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines which process of said first and second processes should be executed, based on the state of a directive switch. 
     
     
       8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second operation means has a key for pushing thereof, and each of said first and second operation means provides the operation signal in response to said key being pushed. 
     
     
       9. A control system comprising: an execution apparatus for executing a predetermined action thereby in a manual control mode wherein said predetermined action is executed in a predetermined manner;   a remote controller for controlling said execution apparatus remotely so that said execution apparatus executes said predetermined action in an automatic control mode wherein said predetermined action is executed according to an arbitrary program which has been previously created by an operator;   connecting means for connecting between said execution apparatus and said remote controller; and   switching means for switching a control mode of said execution apparatus to said manual control mode if said connecting means does not connect between said execution apparatus and said remote controller, said switching means switching the control mode of said execution apparatus to said automatic control mode if said connecting means connects between said execution apparatus and said remote controller.   
     
     
       10. The control system according to claim 9, wherein: said execution apparatus comprises a player for a CD;   both said execution apparatus and said remote controller respectively comprise play keys;   a CD is played manually so that tunes recorded on said CD are played in the order in which said tunes were recorded originally, the playing being initiated by pushing one of said play keys of said CD player and said remote controller, in said manual control mode; and   a CD is played automatically so that said tunes recorded on said CD are played in another order in accordance with said arbitrary program, the automatic playing being initiated by pushing one of said play keys of said CD player and said remote controller, in said automatic control mode.   
     
     
       11. A control system comprising: execution means for executing a predetermined action either in a first predetermined manner or in a second predetermined manner; a first control unit comprising:     first operation means for an operator for performing an operation thereon, said performed operation causing said first operation means to provide a corresponding operation signal; and   first control means for, in response to receipt of an operation signal, providing a corresponding control signal for controlling said execution means so as to make said execution means execute said predetermined action in said first predetermined manner; a second control unit comprising:     second operation means for an operator for performing an operation thereon, said performed operation causing said second operation means to provide a corresponding operation signal; and   second control means for, in response to receipt of an operation signal, providing a corresponding control signal for controlling said execution means so as to make said execution means execute said predetermined action in said second predetermined manner;   first switching means for switching the destination to which the operation signal provided by said first operation means is to be sent, said destination being either said first control means or said second control means; and   second switching means for switching the destination to which the operation signal provided by said second operation means is to be sent, said destination being either said second control means or said first control means; and   wherein:   said first control means provides the control signal for controlling said execution means so as to make said execution means execute said predetermined action in said first predetermined manner in either the case of receipt of the operation signal provided by said first operation means or the case of receipt of the operation signal provided by said second operation means; and   said second control means provides the control signal for controlling said execution means so as to make said execution means execute said predetermined action in said second predetermined manner in either the case of receipt of the operation signal provided by said first operation means or the case of receipt of the operation signal provided by said second operation means.